Early detection of pervasive developmental disorders

The goal of this project is to validate a final shortened revision of the M-CHAT, a screener for autism in toddlers. This final version will be (a) brief and user-friendly, (b) easy for pediatricians to score in their offices, (c) valid for diverse populations of children, (d) valid for younger siblings, who are at high risk, and (e) ready to be recommended for universal pediatric use in the US, as well as in multiple translations in other countries. Disseminating a finalized, valid screener for early detection of ASD, which is parent- and pediatrician- friendly, will allow a large number of children to have earlier access to intervention and optimize their developmental outcomes.